WALES scrum-half Mike Phillips looks set for a return to face Italy on Saturday as Dwayne Peel looks unlikely to be fit.

Peel is suffering a hamstring injury picked up in Sale's 32-25 defeat to Newcastle, and his chances of a Wales return in Italy "aren't great" according to physio Mark Davies.

London Irish's Warren Fury has been called up to Warren Gatland's Wales squad. Phillips, who has overtaken Peel as Wales' first-choice number nine, was moved to the replacements bench for Wales' Six Nations trip to the Stadio Flaminio as one of 10 changes made by Wales coach Gatland in the wake of their defeat in France.

Peel, initially omitted from Warren Gatland's Six Nations squad, has also fallen behind Gareth Cooper in Wales' scrum-half pecking order since the former Llanelli Scarlet won his second Grand Slam in four seasons in 2008.